300 SILURID,£. 



12. PHTSAILIA. 



Bouleng. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (7) viii. 1901, p. 445, and Fish. Nile, p. 321 (1907). 



Body elongate, very strongly compressed, the prsecaudal region very 

 short ; no rayed dorsal fin, a very small adipose ; anal fin much elongate, 

 extending from the ventrals to the caudal. Pectoral fin with a spinous 

 ray. Ventral fin small, with 6 rays. A narrow band of very small 

 teeth in the jaws, none on the palate. Eye large, with free border, on 

 a level with the mouth. Nostrils close together. Four pairs of barbels: 

 nasal, maxillary, and two mandibulars. Gill-membranes free, deeply 

 notched. Air-bladder small and free. 



Vertebrae 52 (11 + 41). 8 branchiostegal rays. 



Tropical Africa. — Three species. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



Pectoral spine serrated on inner side; barbels 



not half as long as head and body; A. 64- 



74 I. P. pellucida, Blgr., p. 300. 



Pectoral spine serrated on inner side; barbels 



not half as long as head and body ; A. 61. 2. P. occidentalism Pellegr., p. 301. 

 Pectoral spine not serrated ; barbels about half 



as long as head and body ; A. 69-72 . . 3. P. somalensis, Vincig., p. 301. 



1. PHYSAILIA PELLUCIDA. 

 Boulenger, 11. cc, fig. 



Depth of body 4 to 4| times in total length, length of head 6 to 6| 

 times. Snout broad, rounded, not projecting beyond mouth, a little 

 shorter than eye, which is perfectly lateral, about 3 times in length 

 of head, and lj times in interocular width ; latter a little greater than 

 width of mouth. Nasal and maxillary barbels y to ^ of total length, 

 reaching extremity of pectoral or a little beyond ; mandibular barbels 

 close together on the chin, subequal in length, ^ to f of total length. 

 Gill-rakers long and slender, about 30 on lower part of anterior arch. 

 Pectoral obtusely pointed, as long as head, extending beyond root of 

 ventral, the spine a little shorter and serrated on inner side. Ventral 

 about -J length of pectoral, about 2\ times as distant from caudal as 

 from end of snout. Anal 65-74, longest rays 5 length of head, narrowly 

 separated from caudal, which is deeply forked, with pointed lobes. 



